Now that you know how to incorporate sound in your movie, it's time to talk about optimizing it for export. A direct relationship exists between quality and file size. If you want the best quality sound, the file size will grow. Conversely, small file size means lower sound quality. This is just a fact. You ultimately need to make a decision as to how you balance this tradeoff. Is a high-quality sound important enough to make your audience sit through an extended download time? Is a speedy download enough to make your audience ignore a low-quality sound? You should be very deliberate in your decision-making process to end up with the best compromise possible.
While exploring this topic further, we'll first cover some digital audio fundamentals and then you'll learn how to apply this knowledge to Flash's compression settings.
Digital sounds on the computer are not continuous. Similar to how a fluorescent light or your computer monitor flickers, digital audio is a series of discrete bursts called samples. The frequency that these samples occur is so fast that you think you're hearing a continuous sound.
Exactly how fast the samples are occurring is called the frequency rate (also sometimes called sampling rate). Naturally, a higher frequency rate (many bursts per second) sounds better than a low rate. The frequency rate of all audio CDs, for example, is 44,100 hertz, commonly referred to as 44 kilohertz (KHz). Sound-editing software can convert a song to a lower rate but it won't sound as good. Why not always use the highest frequency rate possible? Simple. Each sample takes up disk space and adds to the file size. A sound with a frequency rate of 22,050Hz, for example, is half the size of one at 44,100Hz and may still sound good.
Frequency rate and bit depth are independent. One sound could have a high frequency rate (such as 44,100) but a low bit depth (maybe 8 bit). When you increase either factor (to improve quality), file size grows. To make matters worse, a stereo sound is always twice as large as the same sound in mono (because it contains information in two channels). Finally, the length of the sound affects file size directly—a longer sound is larger.
There are ways to calculate the exact size impact of frequency rate and bit depth. The bottom line, however, is that audio takes up a lot of disk space. One minute of CD- quality sound, for example, takes about 9 megabytes! The fact that pure CD-quality sound takes up so much space is why you want to find a better way.
One solution is compression. MP3 compression, for example, analyzes the sound file and finds ways to reduce the file size with minimal sacrifice to quality. Using MP3 compression, that same 9 megabytes of CD quality sound might get reduced to about 1 megabyte! Just like how JPG compression reduces the file size by removing parts of the image you don't notice, MP3 uses a technique to remove the parts of a sound that you're not likely to miss. Exactly how it does this, I don't know. It's magic, I guess. However, Flash can perform MP3 compression based on the level to which you would like your sounds brought down (namely, the bit rate). The best quality MP3 that Flash 5 supports is 160Kbps. A lower number means lower quality (but also means the amount of data per second is lower). One last note: When MP3 reaches 160Kbps (or whatever level you specify), it makes its own decisions regarding the balance between frequency rate and bit depth.
All this theory is interesting, but how do you apply it to your sounds? You have two places in Flash where you can specify quality settings: the Sound Properties dialog box, unique to each imported sound, and the Flash tab of the Publish Settings dialog box.
Figure 10.10 The Flash tab of the Publish Settings dialog box provides you with a way to set the default sound settings globally for the entire file.
Figure 10.11 You can set the type of compression for all sounds in your movie from Publish Settings.
Disable is pretty simple: It tells Flash not to export any sounds. When you select Disable from the drop-down list, there are no other options to set.
ADPCM is almost the same as Raw (below), except it performs a little bit of compression. The options for Sample Rate and Convert Stereo to Mono have the same effects as discussed earlier, but the ADPCM bits specify the level of compression. A higher number means better quality but not as small a file. Pretty much the only reason to use this option rather than MP3 is when you have to deliver your movie to the Flash 3 player (which more people have).
MP3 provides great compression. When exporting, always use the Quality setting "Best" because it won't affect the file size but will improve quality. However, while working, you might consider temporarily changing this to "Fast," because every time you test a movie (using Test Movie), it will go quicker. The bit rate is simply how much data per second you're letting the MP3 file take. The higher the number, the better. In theory, a bit rate of 56Kbps will be maintainable on a 56K modem, although reality is sometimes different from theory because other factors can slow the download performance. We'll explore more issues related to downloading in Hour 20, "Optimizing Your Flash Site." You really just have to test this out and keep lowering the bit rate until just before the sound becomes unacceptable. You can judge the result by testing the movie or (as you'll see later in "Individual Export Settings") you can test each sound individually.
Speech is a new Flash MX compression setting (which, by the way, requires that your users have the Flash 6 player). This compression setting is optimized for the human voice. In practice, however, you should always compare the quality/filesize effects of Speech compression to MP3 because you'll find the best choice varies case by case.
Raw leaves your sounds intact, although you do need to specify a sample rate (frequency rate). Also, if you select Convert Stereo to Mono, any stereo sounds will become half their original size.
Now you've learned how you can set the default sound settings for both Stream and Event sounds from the Publish Settings dialog box. Also note the Override Sound Settings check box. This will cause the settings you apply here to be imposed on all sounds in your movie, regardless of their individual export settings. You're about to see how to specify sound settings individually per sound. Override can be useful when you want to publish a single copy for a special purpose. Say you want a copy to demonstrate from your hard drive—download time isn't an issue, so you could make all the sounds play at their highest quality (Raw).
In addition to a movie's globally specified sound settings, each sound item in the Library can have its own individual settings, which apply to every instance of that sound. Just double-click a sound in the Library (or from the Options menu, select Properties...), and you'll see the Sound Properties dialog box, as shown in Figure 10.12.
Figure 10.12 The Sound Properties dialog box provides individual control of exactly how a sound will be exported (regardless of the default publish settings).
This dialog box is similar to the Bitmap Properties dialog box you studied in Hour 3. In the same way that individual imported bitmaps can have their own set of compression settings, so, too, can imported audio. The choice of settings is practically identical to the settings under Publish Settings. However, in this dialog box, for each change you make, you're given details of the effect on file size and quality. Down at the bottom you'll see how much the file compresses for each change. If you click the Test button, not only will Flash perform the compression you specified, but the sound starts playing and you can hear how it sounds (similar to the Test button for bitmaps, although with bitmaps you judge the visual effect). This gives you all the information you need to decide what settings to use. You can listen to the sound while assessing the effect on file size.
The Sound Properties dialog box has a couple other items you should note. The Default option will use whatever settings you specify in the Publish Settings. Also, you have the same ability to replace sounds as you do for replacing bitmaps. For instance, if you've edited a sound in a sound editor and you want to import the replacement sound, just click the Update button (if the file has moved, you'll be asked to point to the new location). Additionally, if you want to replace a sound (without taking the trouble of reassigning every keyframe where you've already used the sound), just click Import and select the new file when prompted.
Obviously the best way to reduce file size (in respect to audio) is to avoid using audio. Although this may sound facetious, it's worth consideration. You should force yourself to consider each sound you use, and if it's not adding something to your file, it's most certainly distracting because it's adding to the file size (and that's a distraction during download). Gratuitous sound effects are worse than gratuitous visual effects because sounds add significantly to the file size. Just be extra critical when asking yourself whether a particular sound is really necessary.
After you've decided that a sound is, indeed, necessary, you still have ways to reduce the sound's impact on the file size. The best way is to trim any "silence" at the beginning or end of the audio. Silence still adds to the file size. Ideally, you should do this before importing the audio into Flash, but you can also do it for each instance through the Edit Envelope dialog box shown earlier. Another great way to reduce file size is to use a short looping sound instead of a long linear sound. Of course, there's a possibility of selecting a loop that can become monotonous, but you might be surprised how much "mileage" you can get from one simple loop. Sprinkle a few incidental Event sounds independent of the loop, and it can often sound very interesting.
Probably the most subjective question is "Which level of compression is appropriate?" First of all, it makes the most sense to always start with the best quality sound possible and then selectively reduce the file size and quality as appropriate. (The only exception is an MP3 file that you believe already has the best possible compression—in which case you wouldn't want to recompress it.) If you start with a bad sound, it's never going to get any better. You always want to start with top-quality sounds.
Determining which level of compression is appropriate is really a subjective decision, but that doesn't mean I can't make a few suggestions. First of all, there's a common misconception that audio containing voice can withstand the most compression, whereas music can't. This is just plain false! A better generalization would be to say that sounds of natural items (acoustic instruments and voices, for example) are best kept at a high quality, whereas sounds of synthetic items (such as a distorted electric guitar and synthesized keyboards) will likely be perfectly acceptable at a lower quality. This is true because any sound on the computer is fake—you're trying to make the user believe the sound is one thing or another when, in fact, it's just electronic data. When you attempt to simulate something natural, such as a voice or acoustic instrument, your audience has a good recollection of what that sound is supposed to sound like, and they'll notice if it doesn't sound right. On the other hand, sounds from an electric guitar, for example, can be distorted and still sound perfect. Ultimately, you'll still need to test each compression setting to hear how it sounds, but just remember it's easier to notice that something's wrong when a natural sound gets distorted.
One other fact: If everything else is kept equal, a mono sound will appear "cleaner" than a stereo sound. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't use stereo. Instead, simply realize that in order to maintain quality in a stereo sound, you usually can't compress as much (and add to this the fact that stereo sounds are twice as big as mono sounds). Therefore, just be absolutely sure you need stereo sound (and remember you can still pan the left and right channels without a stereo sound).


While everyone has their own unique financial journey, the ultimate aim of the game is to have a comfortable nest egg. But maybe you've accumulated some debt along the way instead of building your savings. Maybe you're not in shape to work on your nest egg just yet. Instead, you can team up with Best Egg and get on the road to financial freedom. Best Egg loans are an intuitive approach for you to simplify the burden that stands between you and your nest egg.
Making the minimum payments on your high-rate credit cards just doesn't make sense. It's expensive and can drag on for years. Best Egg gives you terms to help pay your loan off quicker or make fixed monthly payments more manageable*. Not only can you save money in interest, but you can save time—we're talking decades. Decades of living life free from debt and getting to work on that nest egg.
Best Egg is here to help you get back to enjoying life.


text:
#pragma once

#include "../oomodel_api.h"
#include "../elements/StatementItem.h"
#include "Comments/src/nodes/CommentNode.h"

namespace OOModel {
	class CommentStatementItem;
}
extern template class OOMODEL_API Model::TypedList<OOModel::CommentStatementItem>;

namespace OOModel {

class OOMODEL_API CommentStatementItem : public Super<StatementItem>
{
	COMPOSITENODE_DECLARE_STANDARD_METHODS(CommentStatementItem)

	ATTRIBUTE(Comments::CommentNode, commentNode, setCommentNode)

	public:
		CommentStatementItem(Comments::CommentNode* comment);
};

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Although we are only a few weeks into the New Year, many of us have already forgotten about our resolutions, or are putting off what we intended to accomplish at the start of the year. If completing your estate plan in 2014 was one of your resolutions, then you're ahead of the game. Many of us procrastinate because it is difficult to contemplate our own incapacity and mortality. It is also hard to dedicate the time, money, and effort when there constantly seem to be more pressing responsibilities.
However, creating your estate plan should be an urgent goal for you. Consider the fact that estate planning involves more than setting up a will or a trust; a comprehensive plan includes a healthcare power of attorney, property power of attorney, and advance medical directive, also known as a living will. The powers of attorney allow you to designate an agent to manage your healthcare decisions and financial affairs if you are unable to do so. Without these documents in place, if you become incapacitated a guardian will need to be appointed to make healthcare decisions and access and manage your assets on your behalf. Guardianship is a court supervised and expensive process. A petition is filed with the court, and the alleged disabled person is also entitled to legal representation. After a hearing on the matter, the court appoints a guardian. The guardian is then required to file annual reports with the court. These detailed accountings disclose how the disabled person's money has been distributed and provide information about the disabled person's physical and mental condition.
Executing a power of attorney is a simple way to plan for incapacity and avoid the need for guardianship, which is also costlier than preparing a power of attorney. A power of attorney provides greater control because you designate who will act as your agent, whereas in a guardianship proceeding, the judge decides who will serve as guardian. The judge's choice may not be consistent with who you would have selected, had you made the decision yourself.
There are two types of powers of attorney. With a property power of attorney, you designate someone to handle your financial transactions. A healthcare power of attorney designates an agent to make healthcare decisions if you're incapacitated. Your healthcare agent will use the instructions provided in your living will so that any decisions made on your behalf are done in accordance with the instructions you've provided in that living will. With both types of powers of attorney, it is advisable to designate a successor agent in case your primary agent is unable to act, resigns, or passes away.
A power of attorney must be executed prior to incapacity; otherwise, a guardianship will result. Don't delay this very important estate planning matter. An estate planning attorney can help you put these documents into place.


The government on its part allows tax deductions to encourage more and more people to donate to worthy causes. So, all philanthropic donations one makes towards any charitable cause to various trusts and approved charitable institutions are exempt from tax under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.
If you are planning to donate for Nepal earthquake relief or any other good cause, here are five things you should know.
Any donation made to various trusts and approved charitable institutions qualify for deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. In order to avail the tax deduction, you must furnish a stamped receipt issued by the recipient trust as a proof of the payment. Ensure that you mention the registration no. of the trust as per their 80G certificate. If the 80G certificate of the trust or organisation is valid till October 2009 only, they can still be donated to, as with effect from 1st October 2009 it is not required for trusts to apply for 80G renewal.
In some cases, full 100 per cent deduction is allowed on the donated amount. But in some others, only 50 per cent of the amount is eligible for deduction. Tax deductions on donations usually come with no upper limit, but in some cases there is a cap of a maximum of 10 per cent of the gross total income. In this case, if the aggregate of the sums donated amount happen to exceed 10 per cent of the adjusted gross total income, the excess amount is not entitled for tax benefit.
Section 80GGA: Under Section 80GGA any donation made to entities in scientific research or rural development are applicable for 100% tax deduction, provided it is donated by tax payers with no business income.
Section 80GGC: Section 80GGC allows for 100 per cent tax deduction towards contribution to a political party registered under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) or an electoral trust.
If you are planning to donate for a cause with a hope of claiming tax deduction, keep these points in mind. Only those donations made in cash or cheque are eligible for tax deduction. Which means, if you are offering a helping hand by any other means like clothes, medicine, utensils, food, etc, you are not eligible to claim for the expenses incurred for the same. Donations made to foreign charitable trusts are not eligible for any tax deduction. Donations made for political parties against their miscellaneous expenses like brochures, souvenirs or pamphlets cannot be claimed.
It is always possible for donated funds or relief money to be misused by unscrupulous elements. Never let your good intentions be taken advantage of by fraudsters. Double check the credibility of the organization and the background of the trustees before you make any donations.
Despite the contributions made by many philanthropists and social change activists for social causes, there is still a huge gap between demand and need. As the Government too is promoting it in a big way, this is your chance to save tax while getting that elusive halo on your head.
BankBazaar.com is a marketplace where you can compare and apply online for loans to meet all your personal loan, home loan, car loan and credit card needs from India's leading banks and NBFCs.


text:
Proud Innovation 2022, part one: From ideas to innovations
Add to Calendar2022-06-15 15:00:002022-06-15 15:00:00Proud Innovation 2022, part one: From ideas to innovations Image View a recording of this event. Do you have an idea you want to bring to life? Join the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to get inspired by successful innovators turning concepts into creations. The Proud Innovation series highlights the accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ innovators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who are using their intellectual property to promote advancements and serve as mentors. This page will be updated with speaker biographies as the event approaches. Agenda (All times ET) 3-3:05 p.m. Program welcome and overview Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Outreach Program Manager, USPTO 3:05-3:10 p.m.  Leadership greetings 3:10-4 p.m.  Panel discussion: How to transform your idea into reality Hear how these innovators are using their experiences and inventions to build a better tomorrow: Arianna T. Morales, Ph.D., Staff Research Scientist, General Motors R&D Center Suma Reddy, Co-Founder and CEO, Future Acres David Taubenheim, Senior Data Scientist, NVIDIA Theodore 'TJ' Ronningen, Ph.D., Chair, Out to Innovate; Research Scientist, Ohio State University (moderator) 4-4:05 p.m. Wrap-up and resources   Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Outreach Program Manager, USPTO Speaker biographies Arianna T. Morales, Ph.D., Staff Research Scientist, General Motors R&D Center Arianna T. Morales, Ph.D., was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. She graduated as a Metallurgical Engineer from the Universidad Simon Bolivar and went on to graduate from the Universidad Simon Bolivar Master of Engineering (Materials Science) program. Later, she was hired by the Instituto de Ingenieria de Venezuela (Venezuelan Institute of Engineering) to work on a project with the Venezuelan Oil Industry Research Institute (INTEVEP). After the Institute of Engineering, Morales returned to the Universidad Simon Bolivar as an Assistant Professor. She later joined the Materials Science and Engineering Ph.D. program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After completion of her Ph.D., Morales accepted a postdoctoral position (Research Assistant) at the Materials Science and Engineering Department in Carnegie Mellon University in Professor Richard Fruehan's group, where she worked directly with graduate students from Taiwan, Japan, China, and the United States, gaining hands-on experience in a wide range of topics related to ironmaking and steelmaking. Morales was hired as a Research Engineer at the General Motors (GM) Research and Development Center in Warren, Michigan. She joined a special R&D team dedicated to the design, build, and startup of a first-of-its-kind plant dedicated to the manufacturing of automotive aluminum parts using the Quick Plastic Forming Method. Morales maximized her international experiences, teaming with colleagues from around the world in GM's highly diverse and multicultural Global Research and Development Center and working both with peers and leadership to implement ideas by using her expertise and multicultural sensibility. Her work at GM R&D relates to many issues. Morales is now a Staff Research Scientist at General Motors Global Research and Development. She develops novel materials and material processing techniques primarily to reduce the weight of vehicles, improving their efficiency either through fuel economy or electric range, without sacrificing safety or increasing cost. Morales is a regular supporter of not-for-profit organizations focused on diversity and inclusion, focusing on LGBTQ equality in the state of Michigan. She specially understands the impact of "coming out" in the corporate world as a way to pursue equality, tolerance, and respect for all. She actively participated in the fight for LGBTQ rights in Michigan in several capacities, including serving as a board member in GM PLUS (People Like Us), the employee resource group for LGBTQ employees and allies at GM. GM PLUS generates awareness throughout GM for LGBTQ issues and the value to GM of adopting employee policies to support equality. She also served for nine years on the board of Affirmations LGBTQ Community Center, which provides a safe space for the community and allies in the Metro Detroit Area. Morales is proud of being a Latina, first generation immigrant, and member of the LGBTQ community. Her background and life experiences have granted her a unique perspective on economic and social issues facing businesses today. A particular qualification is her extensive work in R&D at a time when science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are so critical to the U.S. and global economies. Suma Reddy, Co-Founder and CEO, Future Acres Suma Reddy is the Co-Founder and CEO of Future Acres, a company that builds advanced mobility and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for farms, starting with Carry, an autonomous harvest companion that increases production efficiency, improves farmworker safety, and provides real-time data and analytics. She is a three-time Agriculture Tech + Climate Tech founder, having built companies and projects in indoor farming, anaerobic digestion, and renewable energy. She has also built and is active in inclusive tech communities, has been awarded the White House Champion of Change for her Asian and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ advocacy work, is on the advisory board of Scale for ClimateTech, and is a Board Member of GrainPro. She teaches "Future of Food and Climate: Models of Just Entrepreneurship" at the New York City School of Visual Arts. She started her career at a microfinance startup-turned-unicorn in India and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali. She is a graduate of the Wharton School (MBA), Flatiron School (iOS), General Assembly (UX Design), and University of Rochester (B.A.). Theodore 'TJ' Ronningen, Ph.D., Chair, Out to Innovate; Research Scientist, Ohio State University (moderator) Dr. TJ Ronningen has two roles related to innovation, invention, and building a better tomorrow. In his day job, Ronningen is a Research Scientist at The Ohio State University in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. In a volunteer capacity, Ronningen is the chair of Out to Innovate, a professional society that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Ronningen earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Physics at Ohio State. He then joined Battelle, a contract research and development firm, and worked as a Research Scientist for about 12 years. At Battelle, he applied spectroscopy, optical sensing, and data analysis to detecting hazardous materials. He worked with a team of scientists and engineers to bring an all-optical biological sensor from laboratory concept to manufactured product. In conjunction with his work at Battelle, he has been awarded eight patents. Ronningen currently works for Ohio State as a Research Scientist in Electrical Engineering. Ronningen continues to lead and support research projects in optical sensing, now with a focus on developing infrared detectors and imagers. Ronningen mentors students and postdoctoral researchers, and he supports cross-disciplinary research teams to implement large scale, multi-year development projects. One ongoing project is a collaboration between Ohio State and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) in Mumbai, India to promote international research collaborations. Ronningen's work has led to several patent applications. Ronningen joined the board of Out to Innovate in 2017 and was elected chair in 2020. With Out to Innovate, Ronningen works to support LGBTQ+ people by advocating for inclusive policies in scientific societies, government, academia, and industry; celebrating outstanding work by LGBTQ+ people with annual recognition awards, fellowships, and scholarships; hosting meetings and events to support networking and skill building; and bringing information on science and technology to the LGBTQ+ community. David Taubenheim, Senior Data Scientist, NVIDIA David Taubenheim joined NVIDIA in 2019 as a Senior Data Scientist and focuses on accelerated computing and artificial intelligence enablers for startup companies. Taubenheim's current areas of technical focus are natural language processing and real-time conversational artificial intelligence (AI). Prior to his work at NVIDIA, Taubenheim led a program area of engineers, scientists, and technical managers supporting U.S. government sponsors through specialized technology programs and emergent initiatives at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). Taubenheim joined APL's application-specific integrated circuit team in 2009 to engineer embedded digital signal processing capabilities for miniaturized applications, later achieving the distinction of Principal Professional Staff. Between 1996 and 2009, Taubenheim worked at Motorola, where his contributions included the design of bespoke digital signal processing systems using custom software-defined radio platforms, earning him the company's Distinguished Innovator Award. While at Motorola, Taubenheim also moonlighted as an instructor for Xilinx, Inc., teaching digital signal processing design using field-programmable gate arrays. Taubenheim graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and later completed his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the National Technology University, studying during his employment at Motorola. He has been granted 17 patents for a variety of technical inventions. Don't forget to visit Proud innovation 2022, part two: From enthusiasm to entrepreneurship. This program is presented by the USPTO's Office of Innovation Outreach. For more information, please contact ProudInnovation@uspto.gov. The content and opinions shared by our guest speakers during this program are not those of the USPTO, nor are they an endorsement of any persons, products, programs, or policies mentioned during the event. America/New_Yorkpublic
View a recording of this event.
Do you have an idea you want to bring to life? Join the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to get inspired by successful innovators turning concepts into creations.
The Proud Innovation series highlights the accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ innovators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who are using their intellectual property to promote advancements and serve as mentors.
This page will be updated with speaker biographies as the event approaches.
(All times ET)
3-3:05 p.m. Program welcome and overview
Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Outreach Program Manager, USPTO
3:05-3:10 p.m.  Leadership greetings
3:10-4 p.m.  Panel discussion: How to transform your idea into reality
Hear how these innovators are using their experiences and inventions to build a better tomorrow:
Arianna T. Morales, Ph.D., Staff Research Scientist, General Motors R&D Center
Suma Reddy, Co-Founder and CEO, Future Acres
David Taubenheim, Senior Data Scientist, NVIDIA
Theodore 'TJ' Ronningen, Ph.D., Chair, Out to Innovate; Research Scientist, Ohio State University (moderator)
4-4:05 p.m. Wrap-up and resources
Arianna T. Morales, Ph.D., was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. She graduated as a Metallurgical Engineer from the Universidad Simon Bolivar and went on to graduate from the Universidad Simon Bolivar Master of Engineering (Materials Science) program. Later, she was hired by the Instituto de Ingenieria de Venezuela (Venezuelan Institute of Engineering) to work on a project with the Venezuelan Oil Industry Research Institute (INTEVEP). After the Institute of Engineering, Morales returned to the Universidad Simon Bolivar as an Assistant Professor. She later joined the Materials Science and Engineering Ph.D. program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After completion of her Ph.D., Morales accepted a postdoctoral position (Research Assistant) at the Materials Science and Engineering Department in Carnegie Mellon University in Professor Richard Fruehan's group, where she worked directly with graduate students from Taiwan, Japan, China, and the United States, gaining hands-on experience in a wide range of topics related to ironmaking and steelmaking.
Morales was hired as a Research Engineer at the General Motors (GM) Research and Development Center in Warren, Michigan. She joined a special R&D team dedicated to the design, build, and startup of a first-of-its-kind plant dedicated to the manufacturing of automotive aluminum parts using the Quick Plastic Forming Method. Morales maximized her international experiences, teaming with colleagues from around the world in GM's highly diverse and multicultural Global Research and Development Center and working both with peers and leadership to implement ideas by using her expertise and multicultural sensibility. Her work at GM R&D relates to many issues. Morales is now a Staff Research Scientist at General Motors Global Research and Development. She develops novel materials and material processing techniques primarily to reduce the weight of vehicles, improving their efficiency either through fuel economy or electric range, without sacrificing safety or increasing cost.
Morales is a regular supporter of not-for-profit organizations focused on diversity and inclusion, focusing on LGBTQ equality in the state of Michigan. She specially understands the impact of "coming out" in the corporate world as a way to pursue equality, tolerance, and respect for all. She actively participated in the fight for LGBTQ rights in Michigan in several capacities, including serving as a board member in GM PLUS (People Like Us), the employee resource group for LGBTQ employees and allies at GM. GM PLUS generates awareness throughout GM for LGBTQ issues and the value to GM of adopting employee policies to support equality. She also served for nine years on the board of Affirmations LGBTQ Community Center, which provides a safe space for the community and allies in the Metro Detroit Area.
Morales is proud of being a Latina, first generation immigrant, and member of the LGBTQ community. Her background and life experiences have granted her a unique perspective on economic and social issues facing businesses today. A particular qualification is her extensive work in R&D at a time when science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are so critical to the U.S. and global economies.
Suma Reddy is the Co-Founder and CEO of Future Acres, a company that builds advanced mobility and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for farms, starting with Carry, an autonomous harvest companion that increases production efficiency, improves farmworker safety, and provides real-time data and analytics. She is a three-time Agriculture Tech + Climate Tech founder, having built companies and projects in indoor farming, anaerobic digestion, and renewable energy. She has also built and is active in inclusive tech communities, has been awarded the White House Champion of Change for her Asian and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ advocacy work, is on the advisory board of Scale for ClimateTech, and is a Board Member of GrainPro. She teaches "Future of Food and Climate: Models of Just Entrepreneurship" at the New York City School of Visual Arts. She started her career at a microfinance startup-turned-unicorn in India and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali. She is a graduate of the Wharton School (MBA), Flatiron School (iOS), General Assembly (UX Design), and University of Rochester (B.A.).
Dr. TJ Ronningen has two roles related to innovation, invention, and building a better tomorrow. In his day job, Ronningen is a Research Scientist at The Ohio State University in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. In a volunteer capacity, Ronningen is the chair of Out to Innovate, a professional society that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Ronningen earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Physics at Ohio State. He then joined Battelle, a contract research and development firm, and worked as a Research Scientist for about 12 years. At Battelle, he applied spectroscopy, optical sensing, and data analysis to detecting hazardous materials. He worked with a team of scientists and engineers to bring an all-optical biological sensor from laboratory concept to manufactured product. In conjunction with his work at Battelle, he has been awarded eight patents.
Ronningen currently works for Ohio State as a Research Scientist in Electrical Engineering. Ronningen continues to lead and support research projects in optical sensing, now with a focus on developing infrared detectors and imagers. Ronningen mentors students and postdoctoral researchers, and he supports cross-disciplinary research teams to implement large scale, multi-year development projects. One ongoing project is a collaboration between Ohio State and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) in Mumbai, India to promote international research collaborations. Ronningen's work has led to several patent applications.
Ronningen joined the board of Out to Innovate in 2017 and was elected chair in 2020. With Out to Innovate, Ronningen works to support LGBTQ+ people by advocating for inclusive policies in scientific societies, government, academia, and industry; celebrating outstanding work by LGBTQ+ people with annual recognition awards, fellowships, and scholarships; hosting meetings and events to support networking and skill building; and bringing information on science and technology to the LGBTQ+ community.
David Taubenheim joined NVIDIA in 2019 as a Senior Data Scientist and focuses on accelerated computing and artificial intelligence enablers for startup companies. Taubenheim's current areas of technical focus are natural language processing and real-time conversational artificial intelligence (AI). Prior to his work at NVIDIA, Taubenheim led a program area of engineers, scientists, and technical managers supporting U.S. government sponsors through specialized technology programs and emergent initiatives at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). Taubenheim joined APL's application-specific integrated circuit team in 2009 to engineer embedded digital signal processing capabilities for miniaturized applications, later achieving the distinction of Principal Professional Staff. Between 1996 and 2009, Taubenheim worked at Motorola, where his contributions included the design of bespoke digital signal processing systems using custom software-defined radio platforms, earning him the company's Distinguished Innovator Award. While at Motorola, Taubenheim also moonlighted as an instructor for Xilinx, Inc., teaching digital signal processing design using field-programmable gate arrays. Taubenheim graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and later completed his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the National Technology University, studying during his employment at Motorola. He has been granted 17 patents for a variety of technical inventions.
Don't forget to visit Proud innovation 2022, part two: From enthusiasm to entrepreneurship.
This program is presented by the USPTO's Office of Innovation Outreach. For more information, please contact ProudInnovation@uspto.gov.
The content and opinions shared by our guest speakers during this program are not those of the USPTO, nor are they an endorsement of any persons, products, programs, or policies mentioned during the event.
This event is part of a series: Advancing Equity, Proud Innovation
Submit feedback about this page to Inventor Resources. Published on: Mar 31, 2022 02:25 PM EDT Last Modified: Jul 6, 2022 01:44 PM EDT

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Superstar Libra: The Mind-Boggling Luxurious Cruise Experience!
SuperStar Libra Cruise is a superstar in true sense from every angle. Boasting refined luxuriousness dipped in picturesque destinations, it has everything to make your stay onboard the most memorable of your life. Journeying Krabi to Phuket, the facilities and quality of services in Libra Cruise Ship is just as grand as its size.
Whether you've been thinking to hike away "somewhere nice" alone, with the partner or with your entire family, you can't get anything better than Star Cruise SuperStar Libra.
Let us ask you- "why not?" It packs everything to deliver the quantum of fun, memories, and peace in your pocket.
Setting benchmarks for other cruise liners, the ship has accommodation options in ample to give you a holistic and premium feel but without burning your bank account.
It takes the meaning of leisure to the next level with a wide range of recreations and wellness facilities available, including spa, fitness center, swimming pool, beauty salon, and activity center.
To make sure there's never a dull time for you and your crew, it highlights basketball court, golf driving range, karaoke lounge, and Mah-jong room.
Other entertainment options include live magic shows and cabaret performance.
The onboard dine is absolutely outstanding that will leave you licking your fingers and wanting more.
Libra Star Cruise brings ample of choices on the table, right from accommodation to pricing to sailing date. Playing with so many choices ensure you always get exactly what you want.
A peaceful experience that will leave the inner-you much settled and at ease.
Fun time with friends, family, partner and kids.
Premium feel at the affordable price.
An opulent experience that will rejuvenate you, stripping all the stress.
Driven to deliver you maximum satisfaction, we have Libra Cruise Packages that has many options. Coming with 1-night and 3-night cruise, the ship journeys around some mesmerizing destinations that display nature at its best. Sailing dates are available round the year. Book today. Contact Discovery Holidays for more details.
From karaoke to magic shows and live cabaret performance, there is something for everyone on the SuperStar Libra, which also offers a discotheque and many gaming options. Highlights include live shows in the Stardust Theatre and the magic show.
One in a Million is a stunningly choreographed production that brings you to the exquisite world of entertainment. The show tells about a story of a talented young man's aspiring journey in finding his one true love throughout his quest in becoming a 'Star'. Witness outstanding performances by an amazing world-class cast featuring breathtaking acrobats, mind-bending contortionist together with the vibrant Star Cruises dancers from Russia, Europe and Ghana.
James Long is a multi-awarded and a well travelled magician and illusionist who has performed around the globe from the largest theatre in Europe, world famous Magic Circle Headquarters in London and to some of the world's most luxurious cruise ships. At the age of 15, he became the United Kingdom Junior Magician of the Year and has been greatly improving in his craft by creating large-scale production throughout the years.
Experience world-class magic and illusion as he showcases stunning modern feats from a lightning fast appearance to a mesmerizing levitation act onboard SuperStar Aquarius.
With seating for over 600 people this popular after-dinner lounge is a great place to watch a live stage show, Asia's hottest bands or a world-famous illusionist.
Swim a few laps in the pool, hit the golf driving range or relax in the spa with a sauna or massage. Otherwise pick up a new outfit in the Ports O' Call boutique or head to Boomer's Discotheque.
You can indulge in spa treatments, traditional Asian massage services and foot reflexology.
Our dedicated outdoor sports area is ideal for keen basket ballers who want to work up a sweat, but can also be adapted for many other ball games such as, volleyball, six-a-side soccer and netball.
Onboard the Star Cruises fleet, the outdoor swimming pools as well as the Splash Pool, a dedicated area for children to have some fun.
Take your tastebuds for an adventure at the ship's 6 restaurants. Options range from Blue Lagoon, which serves Chinese, Southeast Asian and Western fare, to Ocean Palace, great for Chinese dishes and Four Seasons Restaurant, celebrated for its contemporary, international menu.
Explore the fantastic menu at our renowned Four Seasons, which serves a wide choice of both Asian and Western dishes, plus an excellent drinks list.
Whether you book a spacious Executive Suite, a stunning Junior Suite, one of our many Oceanview Staterooms, which come in a variety of formats, or a more modest Inside Stateroom you'll find that our cabins are well-designed, beautifully furnished and filled with light.
The impressive Executive Suites accommodate a maximum of four guests in total comfort and include a number of privileges from priority check-in to meals and in-cabin fruit and chocolates. Stylish bathrooms add that extra luxurious touch to your stay.
These ultra-sleek Junior Suites are available in two formats – a King size bed or with a Queen size bed plus a single sofa bed. Each suite offers ocean views, generous bathrooms, a mini bar and every comfort you might require.
Friends and families will enjoy these cabins with big picture windows and sophisticated interiors. Staterooms can be configured as a Queen bed and a single sofa or two single beds and a pull-down bed. All cabins come with mini-fridges.
Available in a range of bedding formats, these staterooms are perfect for families or groups of friends travelling together and offer plenty of light, a television and many thoughtful touches.
There's a large array of these interior cabins that can sleep upto passengers in various arrangements from four single beds to a combination of beds and Pullman bunks.
The above information is accurate at the time of printing and is subject to Star Cruises Terms & Conditions.


When California horticulturist Rudolph Boysen experimented with crossing blackberries, loganberries and raspberries in the 1920s, he created a berry that would eventually take his name. George Darrow of the USDA and Walter Knott, a California fruit grower, discovered and revived the abandoned plants of Mr. Boysen's farm, creating a viable specimen released for sale in 1935. The boysenberry's success sparked Knott's Berry Farm, near Buena Park, California, a popular amusement park. The boysenberry soon became a popular crop in Oregon and eventually reached New Zealand, which is now the world's largest producer of boysenberries.
Look for vigorous, woody cane growth with a profusion of thorns when searching for wild berries. Boysenberries, considered invasive in certain parts of the United States, grow in thick tangles when left to grow wild.
Look for foliage that is bluish-green in color, with smooth surfaces and serrated edges.
Identify small, white blossoms with an open arrangement of five petals surrounding a burst of stamen and pistils in the center in early spring. Boysenberry plants are self-pollinating, producing perfect flowers with both male and female parts.
Watch for fruit development when the blooms begin to fade. Boysenberries are considered aggregate fruits, consisting of numerous drupelets which surround a large central seed. In the early stages, boysenberries are light green in color.
Check canes for ripened boysenberries in mid summer, beginning in July in the United States. Ripened berries are large and somewhat cylindrical in shape, growing to 1 inch or more in length. The color of ripe boysenberries ranges from reddish-purple to nearly black.
First year cane growth does not bear fruit.
Wear protective clothing and sturdy work gloves when working with boysenberry canes to prevent harm from thorns.


text:
Fiction > Historical fiction
Romantic Fiction > Historical romance
Before the Rains (Paperback)
Dinah Jefferies (author)
4 Reviews Sign in to write a review
Synopsis Author
1930, Rajputana, India.
Since her husband's death, 28-year-old photojournalist Eliza's only companion has been her camera.
When the British Government send her to an Indian princely state to photograph the royal family, she's determined to make a name for herself. But when Eliza arrives at the palace she meets Jay, the Prince's handsome, brooding brother.
While Eliza awakens Jay to the poverty of his people, he awakens her to the injustices of British rule. Soon Jay and Eliza find they have more in common than they think. But their families - and society - think otherwise.
Eventually they will have to make a choice between doing what's expected, or following their hearts...
Packed with colour, history, atmosphere and plenty of twists and turns, this is a lush, escapist read * Sunday Express *
Before the Rains is a sizzling, eye-opening page-turner and confirms Jefferies's reputation as both a master storyteller and an acute observer of 20th century colonial history. * Lancashire Post *
Beautifully written and heart-rending -- Katie Fforde on 'The Tea Planter's Wife'
Dinah Jefferies has a remarkable gift for conjuring up another time and place with lush descriptions, full of power and intensity -- Kate Furnivall on 'The Silk Merchant's Daughter'
My ideal read - I couldn't put it down -- Santa Montefiore on 'The Tea Planter's Wife'
Author Dinah Jeffries was born in Malaysia but grew up in the UK. Her novels are drawn from her experiences of living and travelling abroad and on her website she writes that her books, 'aim to infuse the love and loss with the extremely seductive beauty of the East.' Her bestselling novels include: The Separation, The Tea Planter's Wife, The Silk Merchant's Daughter and Before the Rains.
Visit the Dinah Jefferies author page
Tipping The Velvet
Sarah Waters
Remarkable Creatures
Tracy Chevalier
The Siege Of Krishnapur
J.G. Farrell
C. J. Sansom
The Empty Throne
Bernard Cornwell
S. J. Parris
Patrick O'Brian
The Sisters Brothers
Patrick deWitt
The Emperor's Babe
The King's Curse
Sword Song
The Grand Sophy
Georgette Heyer
The Pale Horseman
James Clavell
"The scent of jasmine fills the air as you read"
I have been a fan of Dinah Jefferies ever since I read 'The Separation' a couple of years ago, she has become an author I can rely on to completely transport me to another country, another time period and... More
Hardback edition
3 similar books recommended
Emma Smith at Bedford
"Dinah Jefferies does not disappoint!"
Once again I was transported back in time with this fascinating story, set in 1930s India, Eliza is sent to photograph royalty. You can expect plenty of drama and intrigue. This author excels at mixing historical... More
1 similar book recommended


text:
Tag: internet psychology
by Jamie - June 24, 2019 June 24, 2019
How to Have True Dialogue on the Internet
"Should Roe v. Wade be overturned?," was the question asked by one of my friends on Facebook the other day. Normally, I would have scrolled on past, sure that if I were to weigh in, it would become a raging inferno of disagreement, insults, and hurt. The divisiveness of our country scares me, but for that very reason, I decided to engage, to "run toward the problem as a person of good will," as Arthur Cooke said and I quoted in my last post. I decided to comment and ended up just conversing with someone on the other end of the abortion opinion spectrum, practicing the good internet communication skills I've been reading about.
You see, from what I can tell, that divisiveness is growing daily, fed by a windstorm of people who are all too willing to shout their opinions anonymously over the internet but not willing to listen, and a vacuum of people with strong opinions and loving hearts that desire peace, but who are unable or unequipped to speak up. What we need is dialogue, true dialogue, because we all share a democracy, and that dialogue only happens when people of all persuasions both speak their minds assertively, not aggressively, and listen actively.
It's not that I think such dialogue will or even should make us all agree. I have no more hope of that happening than I do of my husband and I agreeing on everything 100% of the time. But at the least, we should all feel safe, connected, free to speak our opinions, eager to hear others', and willing to do what needs to be done so that others feel the same way. At most, our federal and state laws and policies should reflect compromise, if not understanding. Our democracy, our families, neighborhoods, cities, communities, workplaces, and states are what we make of them.
But how does one create dialogue, especially around polarizing topics like abortion, on the internet? And to what end?
Think about how the internet started. It was just a few academicians who wanted their computers to talk to each other, to connect. Those two have been joined by millions more over the years. It organically grew from a simple desire to connect, and it does do that in many wonderful ways, like:
helping people find real-life love, through dating sites and apps
connecting people with resources they might not have known about otherwise
enabling families to stay in touch more easily and dynamically
Facebook, for instance, has given me the opportunity to connect in real life with friends I hadn't seen in 30 years, and would have had no other way to find them without Facebook and friends connecting with friends. Without the internet, I wouldn't have found certain support networks for mothers of kids with ADD and other disorders. I wouldn't have been able to connect with thousands of other book aficionados in the #writingcommunity or with various agents and publishers on Twitter, or with other book reviewers and fans through #bookstagram on Instagram. And don't even get me started on how helpful ordering my groceries online or Amazon is. I keep in touch with my parents and siblings across the country via Marco Polo. These are all things that would not be possible without the ubiquitous power of the internet.
But it has also enabled inflammatory and hurtful speech to spread so much more quickly and widely than anything else in human history. Joe Battaglia, author of Unfriended: Finding True Community in a Disconnected Culture, says:
"A spirit of unforgiveness has been unleashed in our land, and it's consuming us. The internet fosters this spirit, and we must consider the alternative to extinguish this wildfire of the tongue before it burns our entire land with bitterness." (see full review here and deal ($11.52 instead of $14.99 through Amazon) here.
And Patricia Wallace, author of The Psychology of the Internet, adds:
Because people experience disinhibition on the internet and feel relatively free of serious adverse consequences because of physical distance and reduced accountability, they often use tactics that go far beyond what they might use in person.
Examples of these tactics include threats, name-calling, and harassment. Wallace attributes these actions to anonymity, which is "another potent ingredient in the internet mixture as it applies to aggression."
Most Americans tend to agree with Battaglia and Wallace. Two surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2014 and 2018 reveal that while 88 percent of them feel like the internet has been a good thing for them personally, the percentage of people who feel like it's been good for society as a whole went down by 6 percent over those four years.
You'd think, with how much we use the internet, and the plentiful opportunities for its negative use, that someone would've developed an authoritative manual for how to communicate in any one of its vast number of platforms, forums, channels, groups, sites, or platforms. Instead, given that there isn't one and anonymity or false identity is possible if not prevalent, can successful, important dialogue take place on the internet?
Yes it can. Indeed, it should. There are, in fact, many books on good old-fashioned communication that can easily be applied to internet dialogue. I've quoted Crucial Conversations before, for instance. These are the guidelines they provide for having conversations about important topics, at least the guidelines that I feel apply to internet discourse especially.
Start with your heart: if you're not good with yourself, when conversations become crucial, you'll most likely resort to ineffective forms of communication, like defensiveness, debate, etc.
Realize that there are more options than agreeing or fighting, and say you'd like to find them together
Search for the elusive "And" by clarifying what you really want and don't want, and asking what others want and don't want. Look for overlap (i.e., things you have in common).
Make it safe: step out of the content enough to state that everyone's views are respected, and everyone needs to brainstorm solutions or compromises.
Establish mutual purpose and respect: somewhere in that overlap is something you and whoever is arguing with you have in common, even if it's only fairness. You need to want to get to know the other side or person well enough that you can at least understand what that is. And you need to not be afraid to say who you are and what you think is right.
If a misunderstanding arises in the conversation, which it will, contrast to fix it, meaning, for example, something like: "The last thing I want to do is say that I don't value your opinion, because I do. I can see you really feel it's important that_________. I also feel that ______ is important, but my view differs from yours in that________."
Authors Roger Fisher and William Ury say, in their book Getting to Yes:
Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, (which you can get for $7.19 instead of $17 on Amazon) that everything in life is negotiation, whether we're negotiating with our spouse about where to go to dinner or our child about when to go to bed, and it can be done, even when people are
rude,
accusatory, or
vehemently opposed.
Never bargain over positions, because doing so tends to lock people into theirs.
Put yourself in their shoes.
Describe the problem in terms of its impact on you rather than what the other side/person is doing or saying. "I feel scared when…" as opposed to "You're a racist."
Like Patterson, et al., they also recommend focusing on people and what interests you have in common with them, no matter the situation. Easy enough to do in theory, but can it be done in practice?
Erica Simon, in her book You Deserve the Truth: Change the Stories that Shaped Your World and Build a World-Changing Life (very good book, by the way. Full review here. Deal here), says we need to change the stories we tell ourselves when they're not working for us any more.
One of the things that isn't working for me, that even scares me on a daily basis, is not only the fact that so many people die by guns every year, and that I worry about my kids being shot and dying while at school, but also, and perhaps more so, the fact that we can't have sufficient dialogue in our country to find a way (a compromise?) to solve The Great American Gun Debate so that both sides are satisfied (i.e., everyone is safer AND gun rights are still protected). Let's see if we can talk about this, hmmm, perhaps using the principles I talked about above?
More to come on that…
by Jamie - November 25, 2016 January 3, 2019
Book Review: The Cyber Effect, a Dire Read About Internet Psychology
I have no trouble admitting that I very much hesitated to write this review of The Cyber Effect by Mary Aiken. It's a non-fiction explanation of how much human behavior changes online, by a cyberpsychologist. It is a thorough examination of the internet as a relatively new and expanding space, and a very depressing one at that. As a book, it fulfills the parameters of its title, and is technically sound and structured. Its sources are credible and robust. But, as a description of the human race, it leaves much to be desired. And to the extent that it describes in great detail the many evil uses to which the internet has been put, one might expect that, in the interest of balanced science, it would also describe its positive uses as well, or at least its possible positive uses. But in that, one is disappointed. It is a dire read of internet psychology.
What Is The Cyber Effect About?
"Technology is not good or bad in its own right," says the author. "It is neutral and simply mediates behavior, which means it can be used well or poorly by humankind." Given that introduction, one would indeed expect, or at least hope for an examination of both the ways it has so far been used "well" and the ways it has been used "poorly" by humankind. Instead, it describes only how the internet has caused an explosion in the normalization of fetishes, addictions, and cases of hypochondria. "You don't have to be an expert in the subject of online behavior to have observed that something about cyberspace provokes people to be more adventurous." And, "once behavior mutates in cyberspace, where a significant number of people participate, it can double back around and become a norm in everyday life. This means that the implications of the online experience and environment are ever evolving and profound, and impact us all–no matter where we live or spend."
While knowledge about the proliferation of humankind's evils as facilitated by technology and the internet is helpful in combating it, so is knowledge of healthy life practices, especially those proliferated by the internet. A whole chapter is spent documenting the necessity of nursing mothers looking at their babies' faces while nursing, as opposed to their screens, for example, based on the author's anecdotal experience of watching one mother looking at her screen instead of her baby's face while nursing. A balanced perspective would have included a listing of any studies that have been done documenting how many mothers do in fact look at their babies versus how many look at their screens.
Can Balance Be Found?
Along those same lines, many pages are devoted to the ways and reasons why a boy or girl with any kind of an ADD or depression diagnosis will most likely become addicted to online gaming. While parents of those children, like me (my oldest son has ADD), are aware of that possibility, they may not be aware of the positive effects of video games, as described in Jennifer Comet Wagner's The Gamer Generation: Reaping the Benefits of Video Games or in various studies cited by TIME magazine in its analysis of the Cognitive Benefits of Video Games. This is not to say that a knowledge of the very possible, very negative implications of over-involvement in cyberspace is not important, but by its very existence and by the author's own admission, too deep a knowledge of such things can be an evil in and of itself.
One could easily argue, as many have done, that any call to balance the debate about the overall value of the internet, and technology in general, is a call to ignore its more ghastly applications, to live in gleeful and willful ignorance. That is not what I advocate by providing this negative view of The Cyber Effect. While I know that humankind can indeed be depraved, and that the internet has definitely exacerbated that tendency, I have, perhaps, knowledge of some of the more practical and positive uses of technology, having interviewed many wonderful women who've done so for MomItForward.com.
Who Should (Or Shouldn't) Read The Cyber Effect?
I would say that all parents should read it, but only if they make it part of a larger and more focused study of the effects of internet use on their kids. I'm reluctant to review any book negatively because I know the great amount of work that goes into writing them. But it is not the book itself with which I take umbrage; it is its subject matter, its fatalistic view of humankind as defined by its use of the internet. No viable alternatives or positive steps are really given, other than those suggested by a listing of other countries' approaches to cyberspace regulation. Those alternatives are called for, though: "We need to do more for families, and stop expecting parents to paddle their own canoes in cyberspace," for one. "We need to start funding law enforcement better, so it can do its job in cyberspace. More resources are needed, and more teams need to be trained in this work. Academics and scientists need to be more flexible and responsive. We should bring together a large, diverse team of people to discuss and brainstorm about how best to redesign [the internet]." A much more in-depth discussion of these possibilities would have balanced out the book greatly.
BetterWorldBooks has The Cyber Effect for $4.83 with free shipping.
Note: I received a free ARC of the book through NetGalley. All opinions provided herein are my own. Also, this post contains an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you click through to purchase a copy of the book.


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text:
<?php

namespace tests\codeception\Helper;

use Codeception\Module;
use Yii;
use yii\base\InvalidConfigException;
use yii\console\controllers\MigrateController;
use yii\di\Container;

class Migration extends Module
{

  /**
   * @var array|string the application configuration that will be used for creating an application instance for each test.
   * You can use a string to represent the file path or path alias of a configuration file.
   * The application configuration array may contain an optional `class` element which specifies the class
   * name of the application instance to be created. By default, a [[\yii\web\Application]] instance will be created.
   */
    public $appConfig = __DIR__ . '/../../_config/unit.php';

    /** @inheritdoc */
    public function _beforeSuite($settings = [])
    {
        $needDestroyApplication = !\Yii::$app;

        $this->mockApplication();

        $migrateController = new MigrateController('migrate', \Yii::$app);
        $migrateController->migrationPath = '@src/migrations';
        $migrateController->runAction('up', ['interactive' => 0]);

        if ($needDestroyApplication) {
            $this->destroyApplication();
        }
    }

    /** @inheritdoc */
    public function _afterSuite($settings = [])
    {
        $needDestroyApplication = !\Yii::$app;

        $this->mockApplication();

        $migrateController = new MigrateController('migrate', \Yii::$app);
        $migrateController->migrationPath = '@src/migrations';
        $migrateController->runAction('down', ['interactive' => 0]);

        if ($needDestroyApplication) {
            $this->destroyApplication();
        }
    }

    /**
     * Mocks up the application instance.
     * @return \yii\web\Application|\yii\console\Application the application instance
     * @throws InvalidConfigException if the application configuration is invalid
     */
    protected function mockApplication()
    {
        if (isset(Yii::$app)) {
            return;
        }
        Yii::$container = new Container();
        $config = $this->appConfig;
        if (is_string($config)) {
            $configFile = Yii::getAlias($config);
            if (!is_file($configFile)) {
                throw new InvalidConfigException("The application configuration file does not exist: $config");
            }
            $config = require($configFile);
        }
        if (is_array($config)) {
            if (!isset($config['class'])) {
                $config['class'] = 'yii\web\Application';
            }

            return Yii::createObject($config);
        } else {
            throw new InvalidConfigException('Please provide a configuration array to mock up an application.');
        }
    }

    /**
     * Destroys the application instance created by [[mockApplication]].
     */
    protected function destroyApplication()
    {
        if (\Yii::$app) {
            if (\Yii::$app->has('session', true)) {
                \Yii::$app->session->close();
            }
            if (\Yii::$app->has('db', true)) {
                Yii::$app->db->close();
            }
        }
        Yii::$app = null;
        Yii::$container = new Container();
    }
}


Just 10 years ago Chris Smith was working as an electrician. Today he's the course manager of Cranleigh Golf & Country Club in Surrey. He talks about the work he's set to do in his new role – and how the club occasionally benefits from his former career.
The 47-year-old flicked the career switch a decade ago to pursue his passion in greenkeeping and subsequent roles at West Middlesex, Merristwood, Hartley Wintney, Pyrford and Southwood led to his December 2018 appointment at the par-68 Surrey venue.
Although Cranleigh is a relatively short course by today's standards at under 6,000 yards, it places serious demands on accuracy and strategy. And Smith is determined to ensure all of those defences are available as much as possible with special attention earmarked for approximately 50 bunkers dotted around the course.
Smith, who is originally from Derbyshire and is a five-handicapper, is heading a team of five greenkeeping staff but knows his broad range of skills from his previous career will come in handy at a club which has so many other leisure activities available.
Congratulations Chris. Cranleigh is certainly a lovely club to work at.